Cage Free Family

We topped out at a sunny 47 degrees today as we began laying our new sub-floor; the start of our final RV renovation project.

Today I have been working on a hearty chicken soup for my Little Neeka who has a cold, presumably from the difficult combination of a drastic shift in climate, cutting her eye-teeth and a few dozen hours at the local children's museum.
The house smells fantastically of spiced healing food which is such a warming contrast to the temperatures outside.

This week we have slashed 66% of our family budget, moving that income into the savings column and trying to prepare for whatever our future or our country's economical future might hold.
Jeff's mood is upbeat and peaceful for a guy who ponders economical collapse, but I admittedly spend time worrying after those who are not so uniquely situated for living more simply as every headline and news show makes mention of "The Great Depression".

I won't pretend to know if this is a true crisis or destined to be only a media frenzy, but I do feel better having truly knocked our budget down to the bare necessities and holding ownership of our home.

We are gearing up to head back to Texas to share birthdays and holidays with our families and friends, but before we go we will be make some other changes intended to put more money in our savings account. Though we would love to be running free on veggie oil, we run on gasoline, so Jeff will be installing a Water For Gas hydrogen system on our RV. Honda is now offering a vehicle with similar technology and armed with the tips and ideas from those who have schooled us on the system, we hope to be seeing some great improvements in our gas mileage at this crucial time.

Wish us luck as we seal and lay our sub-floor and apply the felt insulation this weekend.
With it, perhaps, we will have pictures of our completed renovations for you this week!


Desiderata
by Max Ehrmann


Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.